Collapsible metal awning



Oct. 21, 1958 M. L. GAMACHE COLLAPSIBLE METAL AWNING Filed March 3l, 1955 25 Ffg 2 IIVVENTOR M. l.. Gdmace Arran/vif:

United States Patent O `coLLAPsnsLE METAL AWNING Maurice Louis Gamache, Creslskill, N. J. Application March 31, 195s, serial Nb.'49s,1z6 z claims. (cl. 16o- 132) This invention relates to habitable buildings and accessories and equipment whichV may be applied thereto and particularly to awnings of various kinds constructed to be mounted over doorways, windows and otheropenings or in other locations. v n

Awnings of various kinds have been in use, including rigid and flexible, movable and immovable, telescopic and otherwise but these have not fulfilled requirements or were too complicated, costly or cumbersome, or could not collapsed into a relatively small compact sunlight admitting structure capable of being extended into operative position to shield from sunlight and precipitation but with Ventilating openings.

It is an object of the invention to provide an awning of simple, inexpensive, durable and trouble-free construction which may be easily manufactured, installed and operated by unskilled labor without special tools or equipment and which will satisfactorily perform the services for which it was designed as well as an awning, the parts of which will be suitably connected and held against separation while permitting relative movement of its sections and which,.when in use, will allow ventilation while at the same time protect against the weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning of telescopic sheet metal segments with tapered angular extremities supported upon spaced aligned pivots whereby the awning may be disposed in fully extended position or in collapsed position and urged toward ex-` tended position by spring means and having an operating cable by means of which the awning can be collapsed but which when released will allow the return of the awning to its extended position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, a similar view of the base or attaching member and one of the duplicate telescoping members;

Fig. 3, an enlarged fragmentary detail section illustrating the relation of the members when the awning is in extended position;

Fig. 4, a similar view when the members are in collapsed relation; and

Fig. 5, an exploded detail perspective of the mounting strip and of one of the segments.

Briefly stated, the awning of the present invention comprises a series of segments, one xed and the other movable having at central portions adapted to be mounted in substantially horizontal position and with angular or depending tapered pivotally mounted end portions allowing the segments to be disposed in collapsed telescopic relation or in extended position.

The innermost roof section is provided with a lateral ange by which it may be secured by screws or other fastening elements in contact with a side of a building over a window or other opening or in another location 2 in which the awning is applied and with a coiled spring about each pivot for maintaining the awning in extended operative position.

The movable segments of the awning are provided with upstanding flanges along their'rear top edges each with openings in which substantially U-shaped guiding and retaining members are received and serve to maintain adjacent segments against separation, the flanges being notched to permit ventilation. l

A cable is connected tothe center of the outermost movable segment and threaded through a screw eye at the top center of the window, then laterally through a second screw eye at the side and then down where it may be attached to an anchoringbracket. When the cable is pulled, the awning will be collapsed and when the cable is released the awning will `be extended by the action of the springs and assisted by gravity.

With continued reference to the drawings, the awning of the present inventionccomprises a `fixed or mounting segment having a central portion 10 and depending tapered end portions 11 and 12 having openings 13 and 14 for the reception of supporting pivots 1S and 16. A ange 17 is provided along the rear edge of the central and depending portions and is provided with spaced openings 18 for the receipt of screws by means of which such mounting segment may be secured by screws or other fasteners 19 to the window frame 20 or other parts of a building.

A series of cooperating movable segments having central portions 21 are provided having depending end portions 22 and 23 and openings 24 and 25 in which the pivots 15 and 16 are received. The movable segments are provided along their rear edges with upstanding flanges 26 having a series of Ventilating notches or indentations 27.

In order to secure adjacent awning segments together so that they may be disposed either in extended or telescoped relation, a series of U-shaped guiding and retaining members 28 are provided having threaded ends 29 and 30 and retaining nuts 31, such ends being located in openings 32 and 33 in the iixed mounting section and 34 and 35 in the movable section. The right-angular end portions of the guiding and retaining members 28 are spaced from the front edges of the segments so that the upturned flanges 26 will be disposed rearwardly of the front edge of the adjacent segment so that the openings 27 in such flanges will permit air to flow therethrough but will be sheltered from rain or precipitation.

When installed and in use, the awning will be in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the relation more clearly shown in Fig. 3. When the awning is collapsed, the parts will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, cornpactly against the frame 20 of the window. In order to cause the collapse or telescoping of segments of the awning, a cable 36 is fastened in an opening 37 and is extended through an eye screw or guiding element 38 near the center of the top of the window frame and through a second eye screw guiding element 39 at the side of the window frame and then downwardly where it may be attached to a fastening bracket 40. Thus the awning may be telescoped or collapsed. In order to maintain it in extended position, helical springs 41 are provided with one arm of the spring anchored and the other engaging and urging the depending portions of the outermost segment in substantially horizontal position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a simple, inexpensive awning is provided which can be easily manufactured, installed and operated and will efficiently perform the function for which it was designed, that such awning comprises a fastening or mounting segment and a plurality of identical movable segments all main- -tained in operative relation by a pair of spaced mounting 3 pivots and a plurality of U-shaped guiding and retaining members which permit'free relative movement of the segments and prevent separation thereof,v and with simple.

spring means for maintaining the awning extended and a cable for collapsing the same or for telescoping the segments thereof:v v

It: will be obvious;` to those skilledinrthenarts thatif* various changes may be made in the innentium Witlrolrtf.

departingyfrom the spirit and scope thereof-2'anditliere'fre they invention is nots-limited bythatlwliich;

only as indicated'girr theaccompanyingclaims;

What is lclaimedvis:

1. A metal awning comprisingLawseries vcrff'invertedsubstantially U-shaped a relatively: movable segments located progressivelyfand Yteleseo'pically one: within ithefE other ina mannerfsorthat theyffcan be relatively moved from a'collapsed tofan, awning forming-position, each inverted Ll-shapecl:` segmentincluding a. `central' transverse f portion and a pair: Vofend portions providing-supports for said centraltransverseportion, one ,offsaid U-shaped= segments having Van inwardly. disposedk flange along.`A the i rear edge of its central transverse portion inA which mounting of-the awning Son va suppcirrtv can. be `accomand "the remainderV of' said segmentsliaving similarly located outwardly disposed flanges with longi- U-shaped guiding and retaining members each mounted on and connected to its associated segment and extend ing across the inner surface of the central transverse portion of its associated U-shaped segment with the con- I-illlsttatedff 10F in the' drawing andz'destribedl.infithenspgction but,

U-shzqiedfguidingy and retainingmembers -areflocated-adja- 'cent each end of the transverse portions of the U-shaped segments in a manner to lie substantially in a single plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNLTED 'STATES PATENTS@ 1,615,214 Cloud etal. Q Ian;-2`5,` 1927 I 2,21112'1141# r lvfatlier' ..n Y Aug." 27,i 1940 25531,'797 Wellman-n mne Nov. 28`, 1950 2,538,286 Todd Ian.J 16, 1951l 

